Top soldier back in Kirklees for memorial service

Jun 6 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ONE of Britain’s top soldiers is coming “home” to Kirklees – to remember local heroes.

Major General Jonathan Shaw, who has commanded the Parachute Regiment, will re-dedicate the newly-refurbished war memorial in Cleckheaton.

The event will take place on Saturday June 27 – the UK’s first Armed Forces’ Day – and the re-dedication will include the addition to the memorial of the names of service personnel lost in conflict since 1948 to the present date.

Major Gen Shaw is the son of Lord and Lady Shaw, who live in Roberttown.

He will be continuing a family tradition as it was his grandfather, Lt.Col Mowat DSO MC, who dedicated the memorial in 1922.

Major Gen Shaw CBE, who was born in 1957, joined the Parachute Regiment in 1981.

He was a platoon commander in 3 Para through the Falklands War and has also served in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and Kosovo. On promotion to major general, he commanded Multi-National Division (South East) in Iraq in 2007.

He assumed the appointment of Colonel Commandant, The Parachute Regiment, in December 2008, and in March this year (2009) he was appointed Assistant Chief Defence Staff – International Security Policy.

Eddie Morton, chairman of Spenborough branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “The attendance of Major General Shaw and men from 4 Parachute Regiment is a real coup and reiterates what a high profile event this is.